Effective August 22, Forsyth County will begin passing convenience fees to individuals who choose to use a credit card, debit card or electronic check to pay for transactions managed by the County’s Building and Licensing Department, Planning & Community Development Department and Fire Department. Paying with cash or check in office or sent via mail does not incur convenience fees.

As you may know, convenience fees are charged by a third-party company to cover the added costs for processing credit card, debit card and electronic check payments. Due to the rising prevalence of digital transactions and associated rising expenses, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved this decision to better allocate County resources.

With this change, individuals who choose to pay with a credit card or debit card will incur a convenience fee of 3.55 % of the transaction or a minimum of $2.50. Individuals who choose to pay using an electronic check will incur a $1.50 convenience fee.

For more information, please review the Questions and Answers below.

Questions and Answers

Q: What transaction types are included with this change?

A: The following is a list of transaction types included with this change. Please note that cash and paper check payments do not incur convenience fees. Only payments made via credit card, debit card, or electronic check incur a convenience fee. Electronic check and American Express are two new payment options being accepted as part of this change.

• Building and Licensing Department, Business License Division (Business License, Alcohol License, Alternative Nicotine/Vape Juice Permit, Non-Traditional Tobacco Paraphernalia License, Pawnbroker and Pawnshop License, Short Term Rental License, Special Event Alcohol Permit, Tax Remittance and Server Cards)
• Building and Licensing Department, Permitting Division: (Business LicenceCommercial and Residential Building Permits, Grading Stockpiling Permit and Sign Permits)
• Planning and Community Development (All Land Use Applications, Film Permits and Cottage Food License)
• Fire Marshall's Office

Q: When was this approved?

A: At the October, 24, 2023 Forsyth County Board of Commissioners (BOC) work session, the BOC considered and approved a sub-merchant agreement with NIC Services, LLC, First Data Merchant Services, LLC, and MetaBank N.A. and a Contract Addendum with NIC Services, LLC for the County to outsource credit card transactions processing through the “Tyler Technologies” Tyler Payments solution with authorization for the Chairman to sign documents in furtherance of the same.

At the November 2, 2023 Regular BOC meeting, the BOC ratified the items discussed at the work session on October 24, 2023 including this decision. Agendas, minutes and on-demand videos of these meetings are accessible at https://www.forysthco.com/meetings.

Q: Why did the Board of Commissioners approve this change?

A: Convenience fees cover the added costs for processing credit card, debit card and electronic check payments. Due to the rising prevalence of digital transactions and associated rising expenses, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved this change to better allocate County resources.

Q: What rise in digital transactions and associated rising expenses has the County seen in recent years as more individuals have opted to make digital payments instead of cash or check payments?

A: In 2019, prior to the pandemic and the introduction of the Forsyth County Customer Self Service (CSS) portal, which provides the option of making online payments, cash and check payments, represented 57.51% of all transactions managed by the County’s Business License, Building & Economic Development, Planning & Community Development and Fire Departments. In 2023, cash and check payments represented only 23% of all transactions. Credit card fees absorbed by the County increased by approximately 13% from 2022 to 2023.